Pages

Saturday, 26 July 2014

The cover being the most ‘striking’ feature of the book, the title simply adds up to the splendor. Happily Murdered…. This debut work by Rasleen Syal raises the expectations from the first look at the cover. The bridal attire and the blood accentuate the beauty of the cover all the more. And so does the blurb…

On the back cover- ‘Who killed Gulab Sarin?’The radiant new daughter-in-law of the influential Mehta family dies mysteriously on the very next night of her wedding. The murder is an inside job, the police are certain. It could be anyone- the adulterous husband, conniving in-laws, jealous friend or the love struck ex-fiancée. With an aim to save themselves and incriminate others, it is not long before these suspects turn into amateur detectives, hunting for clues and delving into hidden secrets only they can unearth. They coerce, pry and blackmail in an attempt to get to the bottom of this mystery. Will one of these nine unlikely sleuths finally unravel the mystery behind Gulab’s death and avenge it? Or will the truth die and viciously as Gulab?

As the blurb seems interesting, so is the book. The book starts with the narration of Gulab dancing in the pavilion and then, death. It then catches the pace with the narration in two parts. One with Gulab telling her part, and the other with how the family members play detective to find out the bottom of the mystery.

As the book advances, one feels that even they are a part of the mystery of Gulab’s death. For once, the authoress can make the readers feel Gulab and at the same time, the authoress makes a great attempt in showing the readers what the family members feel at the current scenario.

There are even points in the story where the readers themselves start to link the points and unearth the mystery and I believe, that’s a very big compliment for any writer. Everyone becomes very eager to reach the conclusion to the book which I am sure the readers would be flabbergasted at.

When the revelation is done, the readers still feel that they have unearthed it but again they are caught in the maze of the mystery. For me, in the end, I was both tears and smiles! It should’ve been the perfect end for the book.

Apart from all that, I felt that a bit more bewilderment in the scenes or a bit of twists and turns would’ve done the trick. A few printing errors were there which were very much avoidable. For me, it is a very next to perfect book, giving it 4 out of 5.

Thursday, 24 July 2014

J.U.I.C.E, very interesting name to start
with. After reading the name, I didn’t know what to expect from the book. But
then when I started to read the book, it was something else. What most
attracted me towards the book was its cover, the art done in the cover and the
name. J.U.I.C.E mostly stands for Join hands for Creating Education.

On the back cover- We all like story books. On the other hand, majority of the students do
not feel like reading academic books because they find them difficult to
understand. J.U.I.C.E contains different short stories explaining the concepts
of Economics and Management. Readers would not feel that they are reading
something relevant to their academics but still by the end of it, they would
attain a lot of knowledge regarding these subjects. Our motto is to make people
view these subjects from a different perspective and expand the horizon of
their thinking.

All the concepts of Business Studies and
Economics which seemed to be so tough when we used to read seemed to be more
transparent with the book. Hats off to the writer for such an unbelievable
thought. The facts stated in the book were so true and very well experimented.
Ample number of examples given in the book makes it one great book to
understand.

The plus point of the book was the
presentation to the readers. The gist of every chapter printed at the beginning
of each chapter brings about the flavor of the book. Adding to the spices of
the book, I would also like to mention the ‘cool’ animations used in the book
to explain each bit of it.

I am surely recommending this book to be
one of the academic reference books to the future generation who want to learn
commerce or to prosper in the commerce field. The graphics used in the book
were so perfect that it enriches the reading experience by the thousand folds.
The Hindi words used in the book seem the best need for this book.

I am sure this book would be the most
wanted reference book of its time. The only flaw of the book is a few grammar
errors in a few places. I also felt that since the book is so nice, a bit more
added topics would’ve done the trick. But it is so less that it is no
important. All in all, I would give this wonderful book 4.5 out of 5, waiting
for the upcoming books!

Tuesday, 22 July 2014

“Dolmens in the blue mountain” what does
this name signify to you? To the people who don’t know the exact meaning of a
Dolmen, the book might seem a bit boring at first glance. Not till a person
flips the pages that he/she gets a hang of the magic that is in the book.
Kandathil Sebastian’s debut work, the book surely is about Dolmens and much
more.

On the back cover- Most of us still dream and hope to find ways out beyond violence and
corruption. Using dolmens (single-chambered tombs constructed, dates back to
Neolithic period 4000 to 3000BC), as a metaphor, Dolmens in the blue mountain
explores the meaning of life and death in the context of migrations of Kerala’s
Syrian Christian community, and the struggle for survival of tribal communities
in the Western Ghats mountain ranges. The story revolves around the lives of
three brothers. One of them migrated to Canada. The second one joins a Delhi
Based NGO, bogged down by a corrupt and callous system, and was forced to quit
his job on moral grounds. The third one stayed back in Kerala, but got into
conflict with the radicalized tribal community. Will the brothers, inspired by
the dolmens, which taught them the meaning of living in harmony with nature,
without compromising the resource needs of poor people and future generations,
be able to fulfill their dreams and aspirations?

To begin with, the blurb gives the readers
a much ‘outlined’ idea of the book. Dealing with the Syrian Christian community
and its growth in Kerala, the book is surely a nice read. It’s very impressive
the way the author had connected the story of the three brothers along with the
dolmens, keeping it as a metaphor throughout.

It would not be a lie if I say that the
Dolmens are the best part of the book. Teaching life and death in its own way,
the book surely acts as a motivating read for all kinds of readers. Another
thing that I liked about the book was the way the author has kept a track of
all their lives and presented to the readers in such a way that they don’t feel
cut from any story.

As the story covers a long time frame, the
research needed to put it up, gives the book a feel-good feeling. The
describing power of the writer is commendable all through the book. Though in the beginning, the readers might be
a bit confused over the storyline, the further advancements in the story clear
all doubts. The perfect end to it leaves a sense of enlightenment in the eyes
of the reader.

Giving a crystal clear view of the
landscape, I call this book a mind refreshing read. Though the book has its own
set of smiles and tears, it only adds to the beauty of it. For me, I found the
book a nice read, if only the book could’ve been a bit more interesting that it
already it, it would’ve done perfectly well. At this point, I would like to
rate it 4 out of 5 waiting for more to come from the author.

Eighteen year old Ronit falls madly in love with Aisha the moment he meets her at his graduation day from a naval college. He believes he has found his perfect soul mate, and come what may, his love for her will last forever. Seven years later, he gets married to her. Big mistake!

A week later he completely hates her and believes she has turned into a devil.

But his perception about love and life change when he hears the poignant love story of Shekhar, his Captain, on a ship that later gets hijacked by the pirates of Somalia.

As they are left fighting for their lives they confront if love truly can last forever…? But does it get too late?

• About Vikrant Khanna

Vikrant Khanna is a captain in the merchant navy. When he is not busy working or penning down his ideas, he likes to capture the beauty of nature on his camera. He was brought up in Delhi and studied at Tagore International School, Vasant Vihar. His first book "When life tricked me", published in 2011, is a national bestseller and has been widely appreciated by young readers. His interests apart from writing include playing the guitar, composing songs and cooking. A complete arts afficionado, we would say

Participate in this competition. Follow the link embedded in the beginning of the post.A lucky winner will be chosen and he will be gifted an author signed copy of Love lasts forever by Vikrant Khanna

‘Bad Romance’ this
different name will give the readers a reason to think and they will
automatically pick this book. The efficiently designed cover will strengthen
the urge among the readers to buy this book. The quality of the book leaves a
wonderful impression on the readers and they immediately jump to see the blurb
to know more about it…

On the back cover - Life is a bitch and I’m one of its victims.
I had the perfect life. I was blessed with the perfect boyfriend, a perfect
best friend, the perfect set of girlfriends and perfect choice of career. There
were some loopholes but then they went beyond my perspective. Overall, I had
the kind of life people would ideally like to have but happy times aren’t meant
to last forever. Sometimes we feel that we have figured life but that’s
something that is never going to happen. You know why? It’s because it has this
habit of kicking us right in the middle of ecstasy. No wonder, it did the same
with me. This is my story, my story of that exploration within, my feelings, my
emotions, my thought process, my priorities, my conflicts and my journey into
the temptation of love, lust, lies and betrayals. This is the story of Kritika
and a man who gave her life another dimension, Tanishq. This is a story of the
complexities of relationships and the trap that a simple idea of sensuality,
pleasure and euphoria can put you into. This is a story for everyone who has
loved, lost and fought for survival and love, together.

This book is based on
true events (part fiction) and any reader can feel that after completing the
book. A story of a girl who falls in love with a guy, just to realize that he
was not perfect for her and then when she found the perfect partner, life tricked
her and left her in her own miseries.

This is the story of a
girl named Kritika who had fallen for Vikrant in the very first meeting but
soon realizes her mistake and regretted her decision. But keep the relation keeps
going in hope of everything falling in place in future. As the story moves on
she learns the meaning of love and finds her true love in her best friend Tanishq.
Kritika and Tanishq starts to dip themselves inside the essence of true love
but Kritika isn’t able to free herself from Vikrant. To know what happened to
their love story readers have to finish the book.

The narrating style is
good and new. The author has wonderfully portrayed the feeling of a woman by
framing perfect words for it. Readers can easily feel every pain and anguish
the female protagonist was going through.

Readers might also feel
the story line is a bit common. This story can be told in a different way which
could’ve made it more interesting. I could spot a few editing errors which were
dropping the speed and essence of the book. Over all this is a regular love
story with a fresh narrating style and I would like to rate it 3.5 out of 5.

Saturday, 19 July 2014

Silver Haze is one book which doesn’t attract readers
through its cover. No, it doesn’t have any over powering cover with bright
colors; not does it have any ‘magnetic’ name to attract the readers to itself;
yet it has some effect on the readers. It has something, as the result of which
people would go for the book.

The blurb also doesn’t say much about the book; but maybe
the simplicity attracted me towards it; to quote it “I have always accepted what was expected of me all my life” “I try to
recollect when I had chicken served in a wedding. Suddenly I remember- it was
my own wedding years ago!” All these lines are able stir all the emotions
kept deep inside a person.

Coming to the story, can anyone tell me what he/she would
feel when one day; late in your age you are diagnosed with irrecoverable
dementia? The story is of one such patient. It’s about Neeru Sharma! No it’s
about Kamala Puri. It’s about a journey of self-discovery, (if I may term it
that). It is a real life story which deserves hats off.

The book starts off when the protagonist is diagnosed with
Dementia and she sits thinking that she will make the most out of what she
remembers. The way the whole book is described, makes the reader go fully into
the book. The readers can feel how the book goes from the day of the protagonists’
marriage, to current day.

The story also moves along with the time of the situations
of North India during the time of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. The
commotion happening outside the house of the main protagonist clearly has its
reflection on the story and that has its own essence.

Etching characters of such a big family would’ve been tough
for the writer but keeping every character distinct yet emphasizing every
character is a job well done by the writer. For odd reasons, I could connect to
every character as if it were me.

The uphill climb of the story leaves a very lasting
impression on every reader. Somehow I felt that even with every element of the
story, something was amiss. Apart from that, a better presentation could’ve
made this book a wonder. Keeping in mind, that the book is the author’s debut
book published by himself, and the book is a wonderful book, I would rate it a
4.25 out of 5.

Thursday, 17 July 2014

For now, while
celebrating the 100th post on my blog, the person I present here is
surely THE best and needs no formal introduction! But yes, I am really happy
that Vanya’s Notebook could go further, now, to TellyWood! Many of my readers
are sure to watch Television. And the GenX surely watches Channel [V] and when
bestselling authors like Durjoy Dutta and Sumrit Shahi write the script of the
show, it’s a must watch! When a person watches a show, he/she is sure to have a
favorite character; the person I am talking about is surely your favorite from
Channel [V] and many more shows! So, here is Ankit Gupta (Parth Kashyap of
Sadda Haq fame) unplugged for you …

Vanya’s
Notebook- To begin with, I will ask the most clichéd question ever asked to
anyone. How did acting occur to you? I mean, why suddenly modeling or acting?

Ankit--Not suddenly, I always wanted to be an actor. So I
started modeling. Did well in modeling then moved to Bombay.

Vanya’s
Notebook- In the struggling years of your career (which every actor once goes
through) I am sure you must have seen the harsh side of this industry. How was
the new experience for you and how did you bag the first offer?

Ankit--I would not say struggling period. Struggling is a very negative
period according to me. I would say learning period which always goes on. It
feels great when people loves my work and supports me. After seeing the other
side of the industry, I am enjoying every bit now.

Vanya’s Notebook-And then a series of offers for
both acting and modeling came through. You were also a part of the once TRP
topper Balika Vadhu of Colors and for now, as far as I know, you are the face
of John Miller; how was the transition? Modeling or acting? What’s your choice?

Ankit—After Balika Vadhu I wanted to do something substantial.
I bagged Mahabharata for Star Plus as Sahadev, but then was not very much keen
to do that. So continued with modeling. Did big campaigns like John Miller,
Fashion Big Bazaar, Airtel etc. I prefer acting any given day but I love
modeling too.

Vanya’s
Notebook- I am (and I am sure most of my readers are too) a regular viewer of
Sadda Haq, the Channel [V] TRP topper starring You, Harshita Gaur and Param
Singh in the lead roles, what were your thoughts when you were starred in the
show midway when it was already a hit one?

Ankit--Most of the people don't know that I was the first one
to sign for Sadda Haq. However, my track started late. That's how the story was
supposed to be from the very beginning. So nothing like that I came in midway
or something. And I knew Harshita &Param already before the show so we had good
bonding. And we have hell lot of fun on the set.

Vanya’s
Notebook- Parth Kashyap, the character you play in Sadda Haq is a man who talks
less, is mature, smart, and intelligent, and has a bad past and an even worse
love life. Is Ankit Gupta, as a person, anywhere related to Parth?

Ankit--Somehow yes. I have seen many ups and downs in life probably
something like Parth only. But I focus on present and am very happy. And everybody
has some or the other issues in their pasts so I think everybody are kind of
related to Parth.

Vanya’s
Notebook- I had heard somewhere that you are in love with sky diving, it being
one of your hobbies! A unique hobby I must say. Which was the best sky diving
location according to you? And how many hobbies do you have?

Ankit--Well I haven't got a chance to do it
yet. But am sure one fine day I will get some time for myself. I heard New
Zealand is a good place for sky diving. It has started in India also.

Vanya’s
Notebook- All thanks to the show, all your viewers, and fans to be precise has
drooled over your physic, your perfectly sculpted body! What’s the mantra of
your fitness? Any special fitness regime you follow?

Ankit--Body is made in kitchen. I eat well. Take proper care of
what I am eating. I avoid eating out or junk food. Eat good, stay positive and
workout under a professional.

Vanya’s
Notebook- I am pretty much aware of the female fan following that you have. Any
incident of a girl gang swarming around you for a look at you or an autograph?

Ankit--Gang?? Well, haven’t come across yet. But sometimes fans
visit our set or girls call out my name while going to gym or when I’m out.

Vanya’s
Notebook- What was the best compliment you received till date? And of course,
from whom?

Ankit-- From my mom. She said now I am acting well. Otherwise,
she is never satisfied with the work I do.

Vanya’s
Notebook- To be very frank, I couldn’t stop myself from asking you this- In a
relationship? Single? Married? Engaged?

Ankit--That's
a secret (laughing).

Vanya’s
Notebook- I am pretty sure our readers would love to know a few things about you,
so let’s play a simple game! Answer whatever comes first in your mind when I
say these words, just make sure it’s the first thing that comes in your mind- Life,
Love, Favorite food, Favorite color, Rains, Darkness, Future, Friends…

Ankit-- Life - my family

Love – myself

Favorite food
- choley chawal

Favorite
colors - black, White

Rains - water
drainage

Darkness -
time before the sunshine

Future -
Bollywood

Friends - I
have very few.

Vanya’s
Notebook- Though I don’t want to end talking to you, I also don’t want to bore
you with my questions. Before parting, I would like to request you to leave a
few words for the readers (mainly your fans) and of course for my blog!

Ankit--I am overwhelmed with the love and support for Parth
& for Ankit. Keep loving & watching Sadda Haq. I wish to entertain you
guys whole my life.

“It has been a pleasure talking to you Ankit!
Wishing you loads and loads of success in your life!”

‘Thank
you so much.’

Ankit Gupta,
though being one of the finest actors of the era, has a golden heart! It has
been a heart-warming experience talking to one of the handpicked actors of the
TellyWorld! Here is Vanya’s Notebook, congratulating him for his success for
now and forever… looking forward to see more of him on Television!

PS- If you
want to ask Ankit Gupta any questions, drop in here at the comment box and
Ankit would reply to one and all!

Monday, 14 July 2014

Remember you college days? How much fun can engineering
college be? What about your feeling when you’re principal gets you arrested and
files a FIR on your name for doing NOTHING? Want to know about the Dappan
Kothu? And We Remained by debut author Asad Ali Junaid is just the book for you
if you want an answer to all the previous mentioned questions.

As on the cover- It is
Bangalore in the late 1990’s. There are trememdous socio-economic and cultural
transformations taking place as a result of liberalization. How would these
changes impact the thinking of a group of friends in their late teens? How
would they cope, find opportunities and what of their original identities would
they be left with, after western ideologies are brought in and bombarded into
their awareness by cable TV? Told through emails and first person account of
events, And We Remained is a light and entertaining read of these friends as
they experience love, heartbreak, prison, politics, drunken binges, strip
clubs, sexcapades, US and Europe during their journey into adulthood.

The first striking feature that caught my eye was the cover,
the black and white combination in it and the name of the book. Sahir, Sandeep,
Wardha, Gopal, David, Anand, Engineering, Sex, US, Philosophy are the works
which mostly strike out from the cover, demanding immediate attention and after
reading the book, one surely knows why.

Before moving on to the story, I would like to congratulate
the author for moving ahead with this unusual venture and publishing at on his
own stake. And I must say, the author doesn’t disappoint. Now coming to the
story! Well, I don’t think I can actually term it as a story. For me, it is a
testimony of events! Events of all their lives.

Another thing I loved about the book was the narrating style
of the book. Off late, I haven’t been a witness to such a drastic narrating
style. The two ways of the narration was wonderful. The past from everyone’s
point of view and the present through emails. I specially loved the concept of
the email exchange.

If I talk about my favorite character, I would want to
mention David here. I had simply ‘fallen’ for his character. Applause to the
author for being able to give all the characters equal importance yet retaining
his focus on Sahir and Wardha.

The book also described friendship in a very pure way,
through fun. The epilogue is something which leaves the readers agape. That was
the masterstroke by the author. Finding a drawback for the book was really
tough for me but nonetheless, when I finished the book, I felt that a bit more
to the book could’ve done no harm, for which I would rate the book 4.25 out of
5.

Saturday, 12 July 2014

Pain, Depression, Pressure, Career, Failure, deception,
Dreams, Emotions, regret, darkness, void, friendship, goal, motivation, luck,
longing and Love. All these are important parts of a person’s being but at
times, are led to such an extent that they end up being suicidal. In most
cases, suicidal people opt out of rehabs, counseling which result in
nightmares. And finally, lender to the last resort, a suicidal helpline comes!
Uday Mane, in his debut work, The Helpline does its best.

On the back cover- Samir
is suicidal. Rachael works for a suicide helpline. Fate connects them through a
phone call. And so begins Samir’s story of love, longing, errors, regret and a
girl who changed his life. As his story reaches his conclusion, Rachael will
know the true reason behind his suicidal tendencies. But this suicide helpline
is not any ordinary services. There is more to the mysterious and yet so
convincing voice of Rachael. As this new mystery begins to unfold, Samir is
going to discover three things: What is The Helpline? Who is Rachael? What is
Samir’s own identity? Every year, several teenagers in India attempt suicide
because of failing relationships, dwindling careers, parent pressure or the
competitive world. This story is about one such teenager, his early problems
and the hurdles to cope with them. This story is about finding hope in the early
struggle. This story is about fighting for what you believe in and discovering
your true identity. This is not a story about falling in love. This is a story
of rising from a failed love story.

As alluring as it seems, I want to give a standing ovation
to the writer for attempting the book. To begin with, I won’t lie if I say I
compared this book with all the books I have read before beginning it. And I
must say, this book was over all my expectations.

Beginning with Samir’s nightmare, this book captures the reader’s
eye from that very instant. It is just the book for everyone suffering from
problems or with friends suffering from the same. There is saying in the book,
not exactly quoting it, it says something like- anyone can be whatever they
want to. This one message, reaches the readers from the first till the last
page.

A book of very precise characters and indicated roles to
every character, I would like to term this book a very well-scripted book. The
incidents described in the book can happen with anyone and yet with no
one. What I mostly liked about the book
is the narrating style of the author.

The narrating style makes you feel like an eye witness to
Samir’s life. Another effort made by the author through this book makes me give
another ovation to him because not many people do this. The author donates a
part of the book’s sale as charity for children welfare through The Rotary
Foundation.

The end of the book is the most sought after for every
reader cause while reading the book, everyone gets so mixed with Samir’s life
as if they are a part of it. The only hitch in the book was a few grammatical
errors and only one scene, according to me, was a bit lengthy. Apart from that,
this book surely deserves 4.75 out of 5.

Thursday, 10 July 2014

The cover and the name surely speak the book out to the
readers. The title, thoroughly describing the book does its best in captivating
the readers at first glance. Everything has its own significance and the title,
cover and blurb justifies this very saying.

On the back cover- Rahul
loved Riya. Riya loved Rahul. Rahul is a Medico, Riya is a non-medico. Rahul is
from North India, Riya is a Maharashtrian… and the differences were endless.
But, love never saw their differences before connecting their hearts. Will they
be able to keep their commitments in Love? Would they prioritize Love instead
of their families and careers? Will this love story end with smiles on their
faces? ‘Your love was all I had,’ a story about the journey of an aspiring
doctor in Mumbai; from his life in a small town, to his migration to a bigger
city for earning a degree in medicine and the quintessential degree in ‘Love’!
A story about two people who are destined to fall in love, but not destined for
each other’s company, for a ‘happily ever after’ story. This book hopes to
acquaint you with the real meaning of love in the age of social networking,
where love begins on walls of ‘facebook’ profiles and ends on confession pages!

The story starts with the narrator, Kaushal, introducing
himself to his readers and then leading himself to the main character, Rahul
and then to the story of his life. For me, I found the beginning very
interesting and the style of writing too.

The way the story progresses, it leaves the reader glued to
the book and smile with the narrator. The narrating style is fresh and is a
feel good in the book. The author has, very well described the flaws of the
society and its thinking.

It’s about opposing the quintessential society and fighting
for love but is love more important than the society? Will love be able to
overcome the conservative thoughts of the society or will they sacrifice? This
is what the book is about.

Keeping in mind that it is a debut book, the author has
surely done his best in describing everything and assembling the plot. As the
describing style is new, the readers would surely want to read more of the
author.

For me, I felt the story and the narration was the same
story on a different platter. It
could’ve been written in a better way, in a different style but nonetheless, it
is a nice read. Apart from that, there were many mistakes in the book.
Grammatical errors. Proper proofreading would’ve taken it to a whole new level.
For me, it’s 3.5 out of 5.

Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Out of the blue, there has been one book which I read very
recently; it is not a clichéd book, it is not a normal book. It is a tribute to
the country, to the policemen, to everyone. The title of the book, India Was
One and the name of the author An Indian, made me take this book to be a
non-fiction but I was proven wrong.

The very first things that caught my eyes were the chapter
divisions, the drawings at the beginning at the chapters and the thought! The
thought, played a huge role in the book which, I believe, made this book a must
read.

The beginning to the book, to many people may seem to be
just another love story but as the book progresses, it resembles more of a love
to the country we live in, the country which has given us everything. Another
thing that I liked about the book was its writing style. The narrative was a
plus point of the book.

Descriptions were pin-point in the book, which I personally
liked. It was much needed and the personalized touch in every description made
this book eye catching. Also eye catching was the love, friendship shown in the
book where you end up going along with the protagonists. At some places,
though, I felt that the situations or descriptions are exaggerated.

While coming to the end of the book, I liked the poem at the
end of the book. It was simply wonderful to read. And of course, while closing
the book; the writer has shown us one thing, India Is One. Saluting the author
for his work, I would rate it 4.5 out of 5.

Saturday, 5 July 2014

The magnificent piece of art done by the cover artist is
sure to attract many eyes if the book is kept in bookstores along with several
other books. The intricacies and the details of a woman is well thought of and
well executed in the cover art. The writer, Kiran Khalap has done exceptionally
well in both the book and the cover keeping all the things in mind which
results in attracting the readers to the level of reading the book at one go.

On the back cover- Kiran
Khalap’s first novel is a poetic work, in which prayer, pirituality and reality
are interwoven, a village girl, Maya, fights her fate in a traditional Indian
family. She makes steamed pancakes and turmeric leaf fragrance and skips
school. Her fate is tied to Ravindra, in an arranged marriage that falls apart
when Maya meets the poet, Krishnarao, and is forced to spend the night in his
house marooned by a torrential storm. Ravindra refuses to believe that their
son Sharan is his own, and leaves her. The young girl is undone by men closest to her, abandoned in an Indian
society that places no value on woman on her own. A tale of snakebites,
separation and liberation.

When I first started to read the book, believe it or not I
didn’t know what to expect with the book. The writing style of the writer kept
me spellbound throughout! The paper quality, the chapter division, the font
used, everything is so enchanting that it seems like the book has cast a spell
on the minds of the readers.

Coming to the storyline, the story of Maya- her life, her love,
her attachments, her soul; everything has been very well described which leaves
the reader thinking himself/herself to be a part of Maya’s world.

The tale of all those men who were close to Maya’s heart,
her father-her brother-her husband-her son abandoning her in this world for
herself is fascinating. The way the narrator has written it makes a reader go
on a lifetime adventure through the book. The characters, descriptions were
also very well executed.

We all have something or the other to learn from Maya and
her life. The whole book is poetry in the disguise of a prose. After reading
the book, yes, the readers are left satisfied as it answers the Universe. All
the questions in a woman’s’ mind and soul. A rare book of its type! A
must-read!

It would be my special recommendation for all the ladies out
there reading this review to read this book and go astray in the whirlpool of
emotions. I can actually call this a perfect book rating it 5 upon 5.

Thursday, 3 July 2014

How would you feel when you become a part of a sextortion
racket? If someone blackmails you with your videos and asks for money? How
would you feel if I tell you that all this may happen with the help of links
you usually stream on the internet and ‘accidentally’ download without even
noticing what it means? The cover of a long haired girl holding a sharp knife,
a terror to most students in Mumbai, Piyush Jha has surely done a great job
with the 3rd book of the Mumbaistan series- “Anti- social Network”

On the back cover- When
college students across Mumbai are murdered one after another in gruesome ways,
Inspector Virkar from the Crime Branch is called in. As Virkar investigates, he
stumbles upon a ruthless gang of young, tech-savvy miscreants who use social
networking sites and the internet for blackmail and sextortion. But how are the
two cases linked? And who is the mastermind behind these killings? As the case
grows murkier, the computer-challenged Virkar finds himself greatly out of his
depth, chasing a killer who always seems to be one step ahead, and a group that
soon trains its sights on him. He must race against time to unmask the gang and
to find the murderer before his reputation is ruined forever. Thick with
suspense and layered with grit, Anti-Social Network brings to you Inspector
Virkar’s toughest case yet.

Mumbaistan, Compass Box Killer, both are there safely tucked
on my bookshelf but when I caught hold of this book, I don’t know why but I had
an urge of reading it then and there. The cover, the name everything was
attracting me to itself. I, for now, can’t stop myself from complimenting the
quality of the book.

Being the third book of its series, it is a subject to much
expectation of the readers. And the author, in no way disappoints them. Yes,
the book has surely made me feel a soft corner for thrillers. The book, when it
starts grips the readers from its first page.

Gruesome, I wish I would’ve had more words for describing
the kinds of murders in the book. But, for me, the book taught me that
everything has a reason and maybe the people who do those crimes are not so bad
in reality.

For the characters, I would say, words fall short in
describing Inspector Virkar. After reading the book, I can bet on the fact that
when Inspector Virkar is here, no fear! The way the character has been etched,
the way he rides his bullet, the way he takes his beer and goes on a midnight
boat ride to clear his mind, the descriptions, all give a cinematic expression
to the scene.

As far as the murders are concerned, while reading, I could
visualize the scenes very well and I actually had to close my eyes and read
through the gaps of my fingers the scenes where the murders with the missing
body parts were described. Trying very hard, I couldn’t find any negativities of
the book. A little more thrill, speed would’ve taken the book to a whole new
level. For me, this book is 4.75 out of 5.

Tuesday, 1 July 2014

The first thing that caught my eye at the first glimpse of
the book was the tagline of the book-‘It’s not a love story…. It’s a
revolution’. The wonderful paper quality, wonderful feel of the book raises a
hell lot of expectations from the book.

On the back cover- How
a love story once hated saved 6 lives in a COMMUNAL RIOT? Should community,
language or tradition be the obstructions for true love from blossoming? How
cruel can a married girl’s destiny be to throw her into prostitution? Have you
ever attended an uninvited marriage reception with your beloved and got caught
by the hosts? Why a boy decides to spend his entire life in a mental asylum?
Why a girl at midnight runs away from her family? How worse it can be if you
one caught by your girlfriend’s parent while kissing her? I AM DEAD BUT MY
HEART BEATS is a fascinating saga of love, educations, community, hatred, sacrifices
and hope. It’s about from youngsters from different communities speaking
different languages- Aryan, Anshika, Zahid and Swati. Get ready for a heart
breaking journey of a complete real life story.

The name I AM DEAD BUT MY HEART BEATS is a wonderful nail
biting tale which questions the society and its forms. A rigorous attempt to
show the world what It is and the cruel side of the society.

The love stories of Zahid, Swati, Aryan and Anshika leave
the readers open mouthed at certain places.

The author has used certain poems
in the whole book which adds to the fuel of the book. It’s wonderful how to
story at a point has been linked to the COMMUNAL RIOTS.

The writer, in his debut fiction has made it a point to
write his best in a very wisely chosen fast paced narrative. Though,
individually the stories were inspiring, the readers would’ve liked it if the
stories were linked a bit more.

Or maybe the two stories running parallel would’ve helped.
The writer questioning the thoughts of the society has been very well added in
the story. Ignoring the grammatical errors in the book and congratulating the
author for his debut work, I would like to rate it 3.25 out of 5.